Happiness Is

It is easy to let them slip away, those little things, those mundane things, those precious things that comprise our days. How myopic we are, so distracted with our busyness—the laundry spilling all over the basement, the dirty floors, the dusty furniture, the yard ravaged with weeds, the phone calls and emails—that we forget what is truly beautiful and our our joy becomes squashed into a minuscule corner of our hearts. Like Martha, we too are guilty of being so caught up in our work that we stand on the brink of missing the one thing essential. So for today, for this hour, for this minute, let us stop, let us listen, let us look, and embrace the beauty that is all around us.

Happiness is…

An early Valentine from your eldest child. 

A Lego creation complete with kickstands. 

Fresh tomatoes from the garden.

Little boys who have discovered play.

The demure princess with a feisty spirit. We have given her the nickname of Mrs. McGoodles and I have no idea why. She loves to swing and she loves her brothers, especially when they make raspberries and crawl after her.

The first-born prince who was so proud that he didn't need any assistance getting this swing started.

Russell, who last week handed me a glass filled with yellow liquid. Captive in the kitchen by our newly installed four feet high baby gates, his potty in the other room, he had to improvise. Better than the floor was all I could say.

And Elliot who, like his twin, has a new favorite response, "because I have to work tomorrow." For example, "Elliot, why did you poop on the floor?" "Because I have to work tomorrow." But of course. 

Peace and blessings.